MovieChat Forums > Encanto (2021) Discussion > What was Abuela’s problem?

What was Abuela’s problem?

posted 3 years ago by Jwhale9382 (23)
5 replies | jump to latest

This, I think, is the one thing that really keeps me from enjoying the movie.

The way I understand it, Abuela doesn’t really love her family, but rather an image of perfection that she projects onto the family (ie. she loves her family for what she wants them to be, not for who they are).

This story is also told almost exclusively from Mirabel’s POV, so we never really figure out what Abuela’s thinking, nor what she thinks will happen if all this continues.

We also never see how Abuela helps the family.
Example; Luisa is losing her super-strength after talking to Mirabel.
Abuela: Stay away from her until I can talk to her!
So how would that conversation go? Would Abuela tell Luisa that she loves her no matter what, or would she say things like ‘strongest’ and ‘family legacy’ until Luisa feels strong again?

To top it all off, during their big fight; ‘Mirabel! You have to STOP’...what exactly? This conversation comes off annoying, because Abuela never says what Mirabel’s doing, how to stop it, nor what she fears will happen if it doesn’t stop. Without any input from Abuela’s POV, it sounds like Abuela is just complaining about things she can’t control.

So what was Abuela’s problem? Can somebody help me out?

[–] FootOfDavros (8465) 3 years ago

I think her husband got killed at the start.

[–] Jwhale9382 (23) 3 years ago

I understand that, but how does that translate to I have to force my family into a specific lifestyle?

[–] FootOfDavros (8465) 3 years ago

I think it was to do with that magic lantern she got once her husband got killed at the start.

[–] Furienna (3365) 3 years ago

Abuela was deeply traumatized by having to flee her home and watch her husband getting murdered.
(Yes, it is heavily implied that she saw it happen right in front of her eyes.)
And the director later revealed that she had given birth to the triplets the same day!
She should have just been resting and recovering from her triple childbirth and bonding with her babies.
But no, she had to watch the town burn and become a refugee and see her husband being killed with a machete!
Seriously, I don't blame her one single measly solitary bit for being messed up after that.

And as for why that made Abuela put pressure on the family?
She had somehow gotten the idea that if the kids worked and were perfect, that would make the magic strong.
Which would give the Encanto a protection from new attacks from other evil-doers.
It is really a great portrayal of what a generational trauma looks like.
"Encanto" is very similar to "Coco" in that way.
A woman is traumatized when her husband is murdered and makes her family dysfunctional without seeing it.
Until one kid has enough of the crap that's going on and stands up to the matriarch and heals the family.

[–] scopeland28 (107) 3 years ago

I agree!!! That’s a perfect explanation how PTSD can manifest and cause dysfunction.